Discusses about 230 species which grow in habitats as diverse as hot paperbark woodlands and cool misty rainforests. Many new species are fully described and illustrated in fine black and white plates. Habitat information is used to develop suggestions on how to cultivate tropical orchids successfully; the information is also presented in a comprehensive chart. Twenty five choice orchids well worth cultivating are dealth with in detail; these include Dendrobium bigibbum, Phalaenopsis amabilis and the rarer Bulbophyllum longiflorum. Other chapters cover natural hybrids, classification, name changes. Over 80 colour plates display their significant horticultural potential and amazing diversity of form, size and colour.